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3 D.C. 663

Maria v. White

Decided December 15, 1829

The petitioner, negro Maria, claimed her freedom by reason of importation, contrary to the Act of Maryland, 1796, c. 67; by the first section of which it is enacted, “ that it shall not be lawful to import or bring into this State, by land or water, any negro, mulatto, or other slave, for sale, or to reside within this State.

Decided 1829-12-15

¶1But the Court refused to give the said instruction. And Cranch, C. J., suggested a doubt, whether a slave gained his freedom, under the third section of the act, by being sold within three years after being imported, if he was not originally imported for sale, or to reside.

¶2The cases cited in argument were, Baptiste et al. v. De Volunbrun, 5 Har. & Johns. 86; Defontaine v. Defontaine, in a note to the former case, 5 Har. & Johns. 86; Henry v. Ball, 1 Wheat. 5; Gardner v. Simpson, in this Court, at April term, 1823, not reported; Negro William Jordan v. Sawyer, in this Court, at the same term, (2 Cranch, C. C. 373); Stewart v. Nokes, 5 Har. & Johns. 107.

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